Cricket Australia Postpones South Africa Visit, leaves NZ to qualify for ICC Test Championship Final

Just In! Cricket Australia has postponed the upcoming South Africa tour due to the rising health concerns of Covid-19 in the South-African Region. Today, Cricket Australia said that, “we informed Cricket South Africa that we believe we have no choice but to postpone the forthcoming Qantas Tour of South Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic”. This pullout pushed New Zealand to the ICC Test Champion Ship Final, With India or England soon to follow.

The Official Twitter handle of Cricket Australia said:

The Official Statement from Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia Interim CEO Read:

“Due to the public health situation in South Africa, which includes a second wave and new variant of the virus, and following extensive due diligence with medical experts, it has become clear that traveling from Australia to South Africa at this current time poses an unacceptable level of health and safety risk to our players, support staff and the community.

“We acknowledge the significant amount of work by CSA in planning for the tour, during which we made it clear that CA was prepared to take on additional cost and effort to make the series happen.

“This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time, our valued relationship with CSA, and our aspirations to compete in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.

“However, we have been consistent since the start of the pandemic that the health and safety of our people is always our number one priority and unfortunately despite best efforts to agree to a biosecurity plan, the risks are simply too great at this time.
“As difficult and disappointing a decision as this is, especially for Justin, Tim and the team, we have a duty of care to our people and their health and safety can’t be compromised.

“We look forward to playing the series against CSA at a date to be confirmed in due course and we send CSA and the people of South Africa our very best wishes for a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and a return to normality soon.”

Cricket South Africa did not feel happy about it, and Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, stated:

We are extremely disappointed by the decision of CA,

With Cricket Australia puling out of South Africa tour, New Zealand have qualified for the ICC Test Championship Finals. They remained at the top of the points table and India or England are soon to follow them. The ICC Test Championship final will be held at the Lords. New Zealand have now become the first ever team to reach ICC Test Championship finals. Upcoming Masters Tournament 2021 will be the 85th Edition of the Masters golf Live tournament and was originally scheduled as the first of golf’s four major championships which to be held every year. Events will be happening on 5-11 April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia venue.

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